About the High School Huddle

Welcome to the Citizen-Times' constantly-updated blog for Western North Carolina high school sports. Features include breaking news, scores and stats, college recruiting updates and live blogs from some of the marquee games in WNC. Readers are encouraged to comment on posts, but personal attacks on current athletes, coaches and their families will not be tolerated and are subject to edit or removal at the moderator's discretion.

Reynolds senior Cameron Burton has committed to play college football for Lenoir-Rhyne.

Cameron Burton wanted to stay close to home, but not too close.

Lenoir-Rhyne was situated just right.

Burton, who was a Shrine Bowl center for Reynolds (9-5) in 2013, confirmed Tuesday that he has committed to the reigning South Atlantic Conference champion Bears.

Burton also considered Mars Hill, UNC Pembroke and Wingate, but the 6-foot, 250-pound senior was won over with a recruiting visit to the Hickory area last weekend.

“It just seemed like the perfect fit,” Burton said.

“I went down there and met their new coaching staff and the players. It’s just a real family-oriented program and that was part of the appeal. It’s relatively close to home, but far away enough, too.”

Burton earned All-Mountain Athletic Conference and All-WNC recognition in 2013. His blocking allowed the Rockets to average a school-record 40.9 points per game.

Burton was one of only two Western North Carolina seniors to play in December’s Shrine Bowl along with East Henderson lineman Nathan Dalton, who has committed to Western Carolina University.

National-signing day for football players is Feb. 5.

So far, Burton has committed as have Dalton, Asheville High defensive back Markevis Davis (Charlotte) and Tuscola lineman Paul Leveritt (East Tennessee State).

Franklin native and former Roberson coach Mike Houston resigned after three seasons as Lenoir-Rhyne’s coach on Jan. 7. Houston has since been replaced by Ian Shields, who had been the offensive coordinator at Army the past five seasons.